Amazing “Second Screen” digital broadcast technology at TheBlaze.com

[I] am continually fascinated at the new things coming out of The American Dream Labs and TheBlaze.com television network (Dish Network satellite TV channel 212). Glenn Beck and his production company are working on the cutting edge of digital technology, news reporting, and media production.

In the segment below, Glenn discusses what he calls “second screen” technology, whereby traditional broadcast TV is combined with some amazing interactive technology on a digital tablet (e.g., an iPad) or notebook computer, to give the viewer a highly-controllable dual-screen experience. The basic concept is not uniquely new. For example, Dish Network has already built some interactive technology into its system. I notice that during some commercials, in particular, a message will pop up on the screen inviting me to press a button on my remote to view additional information about the product currently being shown. This puts the original video feed on hold while the viewer goes out to explore more information.

What makes TheBlaze.com’s second-screen approach unique is that they invert the implicit priority of the feeds. The user’s own smart device (iPad, laptop computer, etc.) actually becomes the control center for interacting with all the material, AND potentially with the production studio itself. For example, one might be able to visually explore, and even interact with the production set in real time as a live broadcast is underway.

Check out the relatvely short video below to take a quick tour of this new technology’s potential!